Criminal Justice News

Wednesday, April 09, 2014

U.S. Marshals Arrest International Fugitive at SFO

San Francisco, CA – U.S. Marshal Don O’Keefe announces the
arrest of Samir Azizi by the U.S. Marshals Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive
Task Force at San Francisco International Airport (SFO).

Azizi, 24, a German national, landed at SFO March 31 en
route from Dubai, where he was intercepted by Deputy U.S. Marshals and members
of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. According to a criminal complaint
filed in San Jose by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Azizi is wanted in Germany for
several financial crimes – 89 counts related to tax evasion – committed between
2008 and 2012, in which Azizi allegedly formed a “gang” for the purpose of
setting up 11 companies that primarily dealt in cellular communication and
other technologies. The companies allegedly participated in criminal activity
including filing false tax forms for the purposes of receiving fraudulent tax
returns. The alleged criminal activity resulted in a loss to German tax
authorities of more than 61 million euros.

Azizi holds a passport from Afghanistan and is also a legal
resident of Germany and the United States. The criminal complaint filed with
the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of California and the ensuing
arrest warrant were issued for the purpose of seeking Azizi’s extradition to
Germany.

Azizi appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Howard R. Lloyd
in San Jose on April 1, at which time he was ordered held without bail and
remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. Extradition proceedings
are currently pending, and a status hearing is scheduled before Judge Lloyd on
May 23.

To find information on fugitives currently being sought by
the U.S. Marshals in Northern California or to submit a tip on the whereabouts
of a fugitive, please visit: http://northerncaliforniamostwanted.org

The U.S. Marshals Service is the primary federal agency
charged with conducting fugitive investigations throughout the United States.
The U.S. Marshals Service regularly works in concert with other federal, state
and local law enforcement agencies to seek out and arrest violent fugitives and
sex offenders, and has established task forces throughout the nation to
facilitate the apprehension of fugitives.